"Why in a Hurry?"

Imagine for a moment that someone gave you a prescription, with the warning that your life depends on it. Consider the possibility that perhaps your life really depends on it. For sure, the first thing you would think of doing is to hurry.

HURRY is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. Hurry can destroy our souls. Hurry can keep us from living well. As Carl Jung wrote, "Hurry is not of the devil, hurry is the devil."

For many of us, the danger is not that we will renounce our faith,
but settle a mediocre version of it.

We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them.

AN INABILITY TO LOVE

The most serious sign of "hurry sickness" is a diminished capacity to love. Love and Hurry are fundamentally INCOMPATIBLE! Love always takes time. And time is one thing hurried people DON'T HAVE!

I have read the book of Lewis Grant where he said that people nowadays are afflicted with what he calls, "sunset fatigue". When husbands come home at the end of the day after work, they directly go to bed to have some rest because they have to wake up early and hurry again for work. And so they end up having no more quality time for the family.

Because of this "hurry sickness", those who need our love the most, those to whom we are most committed, end up getting the "leftovers". It is when we are just too tired, too drained and too preoccupied to love the people to whom we have made the deepest promises. Hurry prevents us from receiving and giving LOVE.

Therefore, hurry lies behind much of the anger and frustration of modern world.

WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING AND EVIL?

The question as to why God allows suffering and evil is most pressing of our time. More pressing than the question of miracles or science and Bible. It is the poignant question why innocent people suffer, why babies are born blind or why a promising life is snuffed out as it is on the rise. Or why are there wars where thousands of innocent people are killed, children are burned beyond recognition and many are maimed for life?

The general tendency and the saddest fact is that we tend to blame God for the evil and suffering and pass on all our responsibility to Him.

This profound question is not one to be treated lightly. Let's go back and recall what happened when God created Adam and Eve; He created the PERFECT! They were not created evil, right?

Adam and Eve did, however, have the ability to obey or disobey God. Had they obeyed God, there would never have been a problem. They would have lived an unending life of blissful fellowship with our Creator.

But the moment they disobeyed God-eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, they have detached themselves from heaven. From that time on, every one of us has ratified that decision and has taken the same route. In fact, it's clearly written in Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, in this way, death came to all men because ALL SINNED."

But most of us ask, "why didn't God make us perfect so we couldn't sin?"
To be sure, God could have, but He didn't. But let's remember that if He had done so, we would no longer be human beings. We would just be mere machines or robots. God could have used His power to prevent Adam and Eve from sinning, but HE DID NOT! Instead, He gave us the FREE WILL. And that's one of the greatest gifts He has given us. He didn't make us mere puppets on a string. Well, does anyone want to marry a mechanical doll? If God made us as such, morning and night He could pull the string and command us to say "I love you." But is there any love at all? That's the reason why God didn't make us like the robots. We are human beings. He gave us the free will for He believes that Love is voluntary. Our choices are voluntary.

God loves the good and punishes the wicked. But this is not the reason why He gave us suffering and evil. Because God DID NOT MAKE THE SUFFERING AND EVIL. He just ALLOW SUFFERING AND EVIL to come for us to become closer to Him.





God has the power to stamp out evil. But if He were to do so, he would do a complete job and would have to include our lies and impurities, our lack of love and failure to do good.

But suppose God were to decree that tonight all evil would be removed from the universe. Do you think anyone could still be here after midnight?

..I finally realized what I was seeking for..

..Studying in a very religious school when I was in high school, praying the rosary everyday and reading the bible every night has become part of my daily routine. Even before I was attending school, I already learned about God. My family and school taught me everything I need to know about our Heavenly Father. And since then, I have become God's ultimate avid fan!

..All that was in my mind is that praying the rosary everyday and reading the bible every night would help me go to heaven.

..All I was dreaming for is heaven..

..Well, I know it's quite normal! I mean, everybody wants to go to heaven!

..I have tried to be a good daughter, good friend and a good sister..But everytime I tried to be such, I always stumble.. Until one day I asked God, "Why can't I be good enough?"

..I always thought that I can never be the best. I have a lot of fears. And as I grew up, my fears grew along with me.. Even though I've been consistent in the honor list when I was in high school, got many achievements and received many awards during graduation, I have never felt that I am an achiever! I never appreciated myself.. It's just that, it came to the point that I was really really hard to please!

..The only people I was relying on when I was in high school were my friends. They've always been there at my side through my ups and downs. They never fail to make me feel that I belong. The only thing that makes me happy in school were my friends. I never wanted to be separated from them.

The time comes when I have to open a new chapter of my life - the college life! Everybody was so excited going to college except me!

I felt I was the most lonely person in the world with no one to talk to and be with. I missed my old friends.

..UNTIL ONE DAY..

A miracle happened!

..It was another lonely day for me. I was alone by myself and I was about to go home. But just when I am about to step my foot out from the gym, someone called my name. It was Joash! He was also a political science major. He called me and invited me to join their "Bible Study".. "where?", I asked. He said that at the wrockledge area. And with a big smile, I followed him and there I met Ate Eloisa-the one who facilitates the activity. ..They are the people who change my life! I join the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship ( IVCF )..

At home I could not help but cry.. I thank God for evrything!

..IT WAS ONLY THEN THAT I REALIZED THAT I FOUND WHAT MY HEART WAS SEEKING FOR!




..I woke up the following day wearing a big smile on my face! Another new day for me. But this time, I say BYE BYE TO LONELINESS!

..You might ask, "what was it that I was seeking for?"

WELL, I was seeking for answers to my endless questions!

..as I grow up, I have become a witness of mad people slowly destroying the face of the earth, little by little drowning themselves to SIN!

..But I just cannot tell them what to do because I myself, am a great sinner! Well, that's the reality. NOBODY can ever escape from sin. As long as we live as human beings, we always have the capacity to sin, for we enherit them from our ancestors - Adam and Eve!


..more questions coming up to my mind everyday, like, who would take care of the poor? of our less fortunate brothers and sisters? and ETC.,,,,

..many questions.. VERY MANY!

..But when I met Joash, Ate Eloisa, Ate Lala and all the members of IVCF, I have come to know God with deep understanding and grace. They serve as God's instrument for me to become closer to HIM.

..As I journey with our beloved CREATOR, I realize that "I don't need to have answers to all my questions.. And that's the reason why God remains MYSTERIOUS and AWESOME.."

Eric Butterworth once said,
"Don't go through life, GROW through life."

..when i read this line in a magazine, I've got a lot of realizations..

Happiness which grand mistress of the ceremonies in the dance of life, impels us through all its mazes and meanderings, but leads none of us by the same route.

Sometimes I feel like I'm a lady without a face.. yes, i'm on my way of reaching my goal, but along the way, there's something in me that's pulling me back..
..I'm not really sure what it is.. but I'm on a mission of finding it out..

..I can't go on if I can't find the missing part of my life's chapter..

"We are the living links in a life force
that moves and plays around and through us,
binding the deepest soils
with the farthest stars."

..thROw thE eMptinEsS Out Of yOur aRms..

..I'm so happy..